MP-elect Shashi Tharoor swings into action

Thiruvananthapuram, May 18 (IANS) Thiruvanthapuram MP-elect and former UN under secretary general Shashi Tharoor has already swung into action — a day after his stunning victory by close to 100,000 votes. Tharoor has already found out the whereabouts of four local fishermen who were taken into custody by Sri Lankan police, attended close to a dozen weddings and also visited the trouble torn Bheemapally area where five people were killed after violence broke out between two communities.

“On 17th (Sunday) morning, I got a call from a legislator here saying that four fishermen from here have been taken into custody by the Sri Lankan police. I immediately spoke to my old friend, the foreign secretary, who got in touch with his counterpart in Sri Lanka and found out that the four are safe and will return soon,” Tharoor told reporters here Monday.

Tharoor created history when he became the Congress candidate to win the Thiruvananthapuram seat with the largest margin in the last two decades.

“The dissatisfaction with the three-year-old Left government and the people here accepting a non-politician all contributed to my huge victory. Actually I am humbled by this margin and my focus would be on results than mere slogans,” he said.

Asked if his new role would be a dampener when it comes to his passion of writing books, Tharoor - who has authored 11 books - said this will now have to wait.

“The expectations of the people here are high and they expect me to deliver. Hence writing will have to wait. I have a huge moral obligation to my people here and I will be opening an office here, which will be staffed six days a week. Moreover, people can get in touch with me on email also,” he said.